Yeah. I can't believe the powerboat wasn't cited either. I know Steve and Marilee, quite well. Steve was my boss at Atoga Systems (a startup that we both joined during the bubble). Marilee owns and operates WayPoint Marine, in Alameda. I have sailed with them on Sunshine Express quite a few times.

Very sad to see that happen to good people. But, the important thing is nobody was hurt.

It is instructive to go look at the boat. It is on a trailer in the Nelson Marine yard in Alameda. Go through the gate turn right and keep going to the fence, and you will see it. It is a strong little boat, but the scantlings are very thin and obviously not designed to withstand a highly concentrated broadside impact like that. So be careful out there!

Mark Lowry, Xena (#68)

:: Thanks for the update. Glad to hear no one was hurt. I
:: can't believe that the power boat was not cited.
::
:: Also I heard rumors about an express down south that had
:: a trailering mishap. Does anyone know the story there?
:: What happened to that boat. There are many of these
:: boats, and we seem to be losing more our share of them
:: lately. Be careful out there.
::
:: It may be too soon after to know but are they going to
:: part out Sunshine express or will someone try and
:: restore her(is that possible?). I hope someone will get
:: her on the line again.
::
:: :: Here's the article from the Log:
:: ::
:: :: Sailboat Sinks, Six Rescued After Collision
:: ::
:: :: Wednesday, July 14, 2004
:: ::
:: :: Wearing a life jacket may seem like a bother, but the
:: :: Shaffer family may be alive today because everyone on
:: :: board their sailboat was wearing one.
::
:: :: On July 4, about 4 p.m., Sunshine Express, Steve and
:: :: Marilee Shaffer’s Express 27, was struck by a powerboat
:: :: and sank in the Oakland-Alameda Estuary in San Francisco
:: :: Bay.
:: ::
:: :: Fortunately, everyone had on personal flotation devices
:: :: (PFDs), including the two young children of their
:: :: guests.
:: ::
:: :: “Everyone was wearing a life jacket,” said Marilee
:: :: Shaffer. “The five-year-old was sitting next to me and I
:: :: grabbed her arm as we were launched into the water.
:: ::
:: :: “The Alameda Police Department (APD) patrol boat was
:: :: there almost instantly. Even with jackets on, it was a
:: :: relief to have them come to our aid so quickly.”
:: ::
:: :: She went on to say that the APD patrol officers were
:: :: very well-trained and efficient, yet showed genuine
:: :: concern for the well being of the victims. The situation
:: :: might have been worse if the response had not been so
:: :: timely, she said.
:: ::
:: :: Lt. Jim Brock of the APD said the Express was tacking
:: :: out - toward the Bay - when it was struck by the
:: :: powerboat.
:: ::
:: :: According to reports, the powerboat’s autopilot was
:: :: operating, and the owner told authorities he had gone
:: :: below for a moment.
:: ::
:: :: The Express rolled, portside down, putting the mast in
:: :: the water. Then the boat righted, filled with water, and
:: :: sank.
:: ::
:: :: Marilee Shaffer said she treaded water, holding the
:: :: five-year-old until she could be handed aboard the boat
:: :: that struck them. The other child, the parents, and
:: :: Steve Shaffer were all taken aboard the powerboat. The
:: :: APD patrol boat picked up Marilee Shaffer.
:: ::
:: :: The sinking occurred on the south side of the deep-water
:: :: channel opposite the container docks. The sailboat was
:: :: salvaged on July 5, to avoid becoming a hazard to
:: :: shipping. It is stored in a nearby boatyard to await
:: :: survey.
:: ::
:: :: The powerboat, a 36-foot Trojan, had minor cosmetic
:: :: damage, Lt. Brock said. The operator of the powerboat
:: :: was not cited.
:: ::
:: :: While the sailboat appears to be a total loss, Shaffer
:: :: said, there was neither serious injury nor loss of life.